EXCLUSIVE: Rising standup comedian Cristela Alonzo is headed to television. A half-hour multi-camera comedy co-created by and starring Alonzo has received a script commitment with a sizable penalty (said to be in the six figures) at ABC. TitledCristela, the project, inspired by Alonzo’s life, is the story of an American Latina (Alonzo) straddling two cultures while not fully belonging to either. Alonzo will co-write the script with writer-producer Kevin Hench. 20th Century Fox TV and Marty Adelstein and Shawn Levy’s studio-based 21 Laps/Adelstein produce, with Alonzo, Hench, Adelstein, Levy and Becky Clements executive producing.

Alonzo, originally from the south Texas border town of San Juan, has appeared on Conan, Live At Gotham and Last Comic Standing (see video of her stand-up below). She made her acting debut on FX’s Sons Of Anarchy. Alonzo’s first stand-up special, The Half Hour, recently premiered on Comedy Central. She is with WME and Andy Corren Management. At ABC, Cristela joins another 20th-21 Laps/Adelstein multi-camera comedy toplined by a stand-up comedian, the Tim Allen-starring series Last Man Standing, which is heading into its third season. ABC was home of the most successful Latino-themed comedies in the past decade, half-hour The George Lopez Show and hourlong Ugly Betty, and did a John Leguizamo pilot last year.

11 Comments

Definitely think the networks are wise to be exploring comedies with Latino/Latina characters, but that standup was pretty hacky…

Mr. T Shirt • on Aug 2, 2013 4:09 pm

I don’t know, I think she’s very funny. Never saw her before, this is the first time I have seen her standup and I laughed. She’s funny. And I am a white guy. I wish her luck,

Anonymous • on Aug 2, 2013 4:09 pm

Go Cristella! -Chris Brown

Craig • on Aug 2, 2013 4:09 pm

Good for Hench! He’ll need this as I will be voting him out of our ff league…

Another Writer • on Aug 2, 2013 4:09 pm

You always know a writer is a douche when his friends come to Deadline to comment on his pickup basketball skills or fantasy football performance.

Barton • on Aug 2, 2013 4:09 pm

Dude, Craig…I told you keep that on the down low!

Oliver • on Aug 2, 2013 4:09 pm

It’s nice to see networks slowly figuring out that appealing to under-served minority audiences is a good idea.

There’s a built-in audience for these shows and white folks are perfectly willing to watch good shows that feature minorities.

Los • on Aug 2, 2013 4:09 pm

Yet there are so few Hispanic executives currently working in TV…

still laughing • on Aug 2, 2013 4:09 pm

show or no show… she’s pretty freaking funny. Female George Lopez.. dare I say funnier?

Rudy Trevino • on Aug 2, 2013 4:09 pm

Great job Cristela! You will put San Juan, Texas on the map and will make us proud. I always wondered why the Mexican comedy AKA Pablo that was featured in 1984 was cancelled. I speculate it was because, Mexican people were offended over the Mexican jokes. A past Taco Bell commercial created an uprising of Mexican- American people that took offense that a Mexican Chihuahua was being used to represent them and thus was seen as racially disparaging. I would say to those Mexicans who become easily offended that that they not do so. It’s ok to laugh at ourselves from time to time. Way to go Cristela! We love you and will be looking forward to seeing you on television. Rudy Trevino, formerly from San Juan, Texas